Wrench.



C. STEPHENS.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-21. I915.

1,179,574. I Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Curtis Siephezzs.

wumeooeo CURTIS STEPHENS,

or DICKERSQN RUN, PENNSYLVANIA.

WRENCH.

Application filed January 21, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CURTIS STErHnNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dickerson Run, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to wrenches, and more particularly to that type of wrench in which one of the jaws slides relatively to the other jaw for the purpose of obtaining different adjustments. V l

The invention has for one of its; objects to provide a wrench inwhich the adjustments are easily and quickly attained.

A further object, of the invention is to provide a wrench in which the jaws will be positively held in adjusted position durmg the operation of the wrench. v a

Referring to the drawings; Figure 1 1s a view in side elevation of a wrench constructed .in-accordance withthe present invention and with the side plate removed;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the sliding jaw taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional v ew taken on line 3-3 Fig. 1 of the sliding jaw showing the method of mounting the sliding locking block; Fig. 4 is a detail v1ew of the means employed for operating the sliding locking block, and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the cover plate.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the shank of the wrench, 2 the stationary aw rigidly secured to one end thereof and 3 the handle which is rigidly attached to the opposite end.

A portion of the shank 1 is squared as at 4, and slidably mounted on the said squared portion is a jaw 5. One of the faces of the squared portion is formed with a rack 6 throughout a portion of its length as shown in Fig. 1.

To provide for sliding relation of the jaw 5 with the shank 1, the jaw 5 is provided with two spaced yokes 7 and 8 which surround the said squared portion of the shank 1. The yokes 7 and 8 are substantially L- shaped, the jaw being secured in place on the shank 2 by means of the removable plate 9.

The sliding jaw 5 is provided with a recess or cut out portion 10, the top wall of which near the rear end thereof is inclined Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1916.

Serial No. 3,431.

downwardly as at 11 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The end walls 12 and 13 of the recess or cut out portion 10 are provided with slots or recesses 14, said recesses terminating at a point below the top of said walls.

, Slidably mounted in the recess 10 of the jaw 5 is a block 15 the lower face of which is provided with rack teeth 16 and the upper face of said block is formed with a compound cam 17, said upper face inclining upwardly from front to rear. Each end of the sliding block 15 is provided with an integralrib 18, each of which projects into one of the slots or recesses 14 in the end walls of the recess 10 to form means for guiding the block within said recess 10.

Suitabl secured at its ends to one side of the mova le jaw 5 and extending longitudinally of the recess 10 on the outside thereof'is aispring 20, wh ich is secured intermediate of its ends to the side of the sliding block 15, and acts to resiliently support the same with its rack teeth 16 out of engagement with the teeth of the rack 6 of the shank 1.

Slidably mounted between the upper double cam face of the vertically sliding block 15 is a wedge shaped block 21 the apex of which is bifurcated as at 22 to receive a handle member 23 which is secured therein by means of a pin 27. The handle member 23 projects through an opening 24 in one of the end walls of the recess 10, and has its free end provided with a knob 24.

Surrounding the handle member 23 is a coil spring 25 one end of which abuts the end face of the sliding jaw 5, while the other end abuts the knob 24. The tension of the spring 25 tends to force the wedge shaped member 21 to the rear of the recess 10 thus maintaining the rack 16 of the block 15 in engagement with the rack 6 of the shank.

As shown in Fig. 5 the cover plate 9 has its inner face recessed as at 28 to receive the spring 20 and permit of free working of the same together with the sliding block 15.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to make an adjustment, the operator exerts pressure by means of the handle member 23, and pushes the same forwardly compressing the spring 25. Such movement of the handle member 23 forces the wedge to the forward portion of the recess 10 and into engagement with the lowest thumb upon the knob 24 of the portion of the compound cam face of the block 15, and permits of the springjQQ raising the block 15 to a point where'it's rack teeth 16 disengage the rack teeth 6 of the shank 1 leaving the jaw free to move longitudinally of theshank 1. v 7

When the jaw 5 has'been moved to the desired position on the shank '1, the thii'mb 10 when the rack teeth 16 of the sliding.

block 15 are forcedinto engagement with the'rack teeth 6 of the action of the spring20. v v I The coil spring 25 acts 'to holdth'e parts in the above described pos'itio'n which niaintains the teeth of the rack 16 of the'block 1 5 in engagement with the teeth 6 of the shank 1, 'thus securing the jaw againstmovement relatively to the stationary jaw 2;

From the fore oing it" will be sefiftli a't I a wrench which is not only? have constructed I I cheaply manufactured, but

both 1 easily as sembled, and positive in its operation.

shank 1, against the Having thus described my invention what I claim as new, and desireto protect by Lettr's'Patentj'is;

, A- wrench of the class described including a shank having a rigid jaw at one end, a

rackformed in one edge of theshank, a'jaw shiftable on said shank, and comprising a body havinga recess one sideedge of which opens onto the said rack, while the opposite edge is providedw'ithja wedgeface, arack engaging pawl 'slidably' guided" theend walls of said recess, a] pawl spring adapted-j to disengage the pawl fromsaid rack; andmeans for causing; said'paw'l to engage with l the rack comprising a pring pressed finer operated member having a path of wedge'block 'plvotally' carried by-one end 0 Said n'iinbel" and engagin with the wedge 1' face of the-recess; and also engaging"With the rear si'dof'the pawl 'to" force the latter int engagementiwith' the rack on the; shank" against the tension o f the pawlspring."

in presenceof two witnesses."

CURTIS STEPHENS; witnesses;

Jos. A. s;

om romcopies-Mimi petiitdiiai we. aiiramwmri iv aeiiis ea'h,--lif addi'eihg tfieCommissioner of mean;

ment parallel to the shank, and a ca 7 Ii -testimony whel ef'l aifi'x,m sigrmure- 

